Football helmet



Dec. 13, 1927.

R. T. MULLINS FOOTBALL HELMET 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. l5, 1927 w Y jb,

M- Q Mk ATToRNEYs Dec. 13, 1927.

R. T. MULLINS FOOTBALL HELMET 2 sheets-skien 2 Filed Feb, 15. 1927 INVENTOR BY wfgvww Hwa] WZ,

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

` n 1,652,288 PATENT oFFicEff ROBERT `Traci/[As ivLULKLIivs,v OE BROOKLYN,- NEWYoBKfAssGNOB .To A. G. srABnING Y & BRos, or NEWYOBK, Y., A ooBBoBArroN or yNEW JERSEY. n

KK .FOOTBALL HELMET.

Appncatinfleii February 15,1927. serial No. 168,254.

The present invention relates to the type'of helmets adapted particularly for use 1n games such as football, soccer, etc.,v and more particularly deals with the. improvedv forms of such helmets wherein chin .strapsf have been dispensed with. Y f' v An object of the inventionV is to providea helmet which tits the head snugly and has an adjustable pad which engages the lower part of the rear of th'ehead just above the nape of the neck. Although pads have previously been used in connection with helmets of various kinds the present construction is designed so that the pressure between the forehead and the A'rear porti-onA of the head wi'll be distributed over a sufficient area `to render the head piece quite comfortable and prevent the dislodging thereof during play. The specific construction ofthe pad used herein causes the entire inner surface of the helmet to coliform very closely to the players head vand the means. for adjusting the padis concealed between the pad kandthe outer portion of the helmet'so thatthe continuity of the outer surface'is unbroken.

The present,inventionjfrelates toanimproved form of helmet embodying the features described above and provides an vadditionalmeans for causing the helmet to lfit the players headsnugly, and yet to provide a certain degree of adjustability both with respect to the size of the head upon which it is to be used, and the gripping force upon the head. 1

Reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof for a more detailed description of the invention, wherein: Y

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a proposed form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of `Figure 3, and showing the adjustable feature of this invention. f

-Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, and showing the manner in which the elements havebeen assembled to facilitate l vthe adjusting` of the sizeof the helmet.

In the drawings a designates the upperor crown portion ofthe helmet, and'. b designates the rlower portion which is secured to v the crown portion by means of suitable straps a. Ear extensions o" are provided in the usual manner and a suitable felt linn ing b2 is applied to the inner surface of thel -this spe'cic construction.

helmet to provide thek necessary cushioning function.

. At the rear of the lower portion b, a'

leather sect-ion c is provided which does not have thefelt lining 62. Sewed at thetop of this leather portion c, is a flap ci, it being secured to the portion C by means of suitable stitching d. This ap has on its inner side, felt Vpadding b2 similar to that described previously. f

In the form Vof the invention disclosed herein the leathery flap Z is provided with two slits Z2 at either end of the flap, the purposejof this appearing later. At either sideof the leather portion o, vertical tabs c are provided and are stitched as at e to the ear extensions `b ofthe helmet. These tabs are provided with slits c2 adapted to receive an elastic band f, the tension of which varies the effective size of the helmet. The band f extends beneath the flap d and the felt portion b2 thereof, and passes through the slits e2. The two ends f of this strap 7"' pass through the slitsd2 in the flap d, and have formed therein eyelets f2 which are adapted to receive a lacing g: i

` It will be evident that the lacing may be secured in a kmanner to set up a] desired degree of tension in the elastic band, and the flap Z will be forced outwardly again-st the glayers head ito a` corresponding extent.

etting up a tension in the flexible strap and forcing the flap outwardly is accompanied 'by a constriction of the lower portion of *manner in which these elements have been illustrated herein has been found to be particularly desirable, and the adjustingrof the tension 0f the strap has been facilitated by It will be noted that the elements have been effectively concealed beneath the leather portions 0 Vso that none of them is exposed, and the adjustable members may be easily removed and replaced.

A vertical re-enforcing strap a2 may be applied and the successive layers may be secured in position by suitable stitching a3.'

It Will be evident that the invention may 2 neeaeee `be embodied in many dilferent i`orn1s,`the

arrangement of the elements as shown here in merely serving to illustrate one specific modification. Although only this modilira tion has been shown and described herein, the invention is not to be limited save as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a football helmet having a crown and a lower section of leather, a flap, and means to secure the flap adjustably within the lower section of the helmet comprising, a strap, and means to vary the effective length of the strap, whereby the helmet may be adjusted to the head of the wearer, the outside 0l the lower section oLt' the helmet being unbroken and all said elements lying inside said lower section.

2. In a football helmet having a crown and a lower section of leather. a dan, and means to secure the llap adjustal'ily within the lower section oif the l'ielmet comprising, a strap, and means to vary the `eitl'cttive length of the strap tro-operating with the ends of lthe strap and located between the flap and the inside of the lower section or the helmet, whereby the helmet may be adjusted to the head of the wearer.

3. In a football helmet having a crown and a lower section of leather, a dal), and means to secure the flap adjustably within and at the rear of the lower section of the helmet comprising, tabs secured to the said lower section, a strap co-operating with the tabs and with the flap, and means to vary the ellective length of the strap, whereby the helmet may be adjusted to the head of the wearer, the outside ofthe lower section ot the helmet being unbroken and all said elements lying inside said lower section.

4. In a football helmet having a crown and a lower section of leather, a flap, and means to secure the iap adjnstably within 'and at the rear of the lower section of the helmet comprising, tabs secured to the said lower section, a strap cooperating with the tabs and with the flap, and means to vary the effective lenffth of the strap co-operatingwith the ends ot' the strap andlocated between the flap and the inside ot' the lower section `oi the helmet, whereby the helmet may be adjusted to the head of the wearer.

5. In a football helmet having a crown and a lower section of leather, a. flap, slits in the iiap, and meansto secure the lia adjustably within and at the rear of the lhwer section of the helmet comprising, tabs se` cured to the said lower section, slits in said tabs, a strap passing through the slits in the tabs and the slits in the flap, and means'to vary the effective length of the strap cooperating with the ends of the strap and located between the flap and the inside oi the lower section of the helmet, whereby the l helmet may be adjusted to the head of the wearer.

`(i. In a football. helmet having a crown and a lower section oit' leather, a lia i, slits in the flap, and means to secure the i ap adjustably within and at the rear of the lower section of the helmet comprising, tabs se cured to the said lower section, slits in said tabs, a strap passing through the slits in the tabs and the slits in the flap, means to vary Y ROBERT THOMAS ii/IULLINS.` 

